FORT MYERS, Fla. -- While most of the organizations that stock Eastern League teams have chosen in recent years to prop up their rosters with veterans, the Minnesota Twins continue to funnel youngsters up their organizational ladder.

Imagine the Rock Cat hitters' awe when they ventured across town to take on their Boston counterparts Monday and came face-to-face with 33-year-old Red Sox journeyman Julian Tavarez. The results were predictable.

Tavarez stymied the Kittens for six innings, allowing only an unearned run in the first frame of the Portland Sea Dogs' 4-1 triumph.

"He had 75 pitches and the wind was blowing in the hitters' faces," Ingram said. "He was looking pretty sharp. We mustered three hits off him but he did what he was supposed to do. He kept the ball down, he changed speeds. When the hitters thought they were on a pitch, he'd throw a little wrinkle in there.

"It's nice for our guys to face guys like this in the spring. It's a learning curve and it's good for them."

New Britain hurlers Nick Blackburn, Brian Duensing and Zach Ward held the young Sox to a run on six hits over eight innings but veteran minor league hurler Brian Forystek was lit up for three runs on five hits in the ninth.

Forystek, 28, is trying to hook on with Triple-A Rochester. With four EL seasons in the Baltimore Orioles' system under his belt , it's Triple-A or bust.